who’d been so sure her life would unfold perfectly, complete with a romance novel ending. She’d have the right job, the right man, the ideal life. How silly and naïve she’d been.
“She was a pretty young girl,” he said. “Who’s become a beautiful woman.” His words were simple, matter of fact. He wasn’t trying to shine her on or butter her up.
She turned her head to hide her trembling lips. Of course he didn’t mean the compliment literally. But too few men understood what those words meant to a woman. What a balm they were to a bruised soul.
They’d reached the park’s playground area, which was deserted this morning. Seizing the chance to change the topic, she gestured to the swing set. “I used to love the swings.”
“When was the last time you were on one?”
She laughed. “Not since I was a kid.”
“Sit down,” he urged. “I’ll push you.”
It was ridiculous. “I’m too big.”
“No, you’re not. Those seats look plenty strong enough to hold an adult.”
Rolling her eyes, she plunked down on an empty swing. Eric tied Bobo’s leash to the slat of a nearby bench.
Eric stood behind her. “Ready?”
She stifled a giggle and gripped the chains. Was she really doing this? “Ready.”
He started out slow, with a solid push, but quickly built up steam. Soon, Annalee was flying, her toes pointed toward the clouds. Eric knew what he was doing, pushing the seat. Together they achieved a perfect rhythm that was almost hypnotizing. No matter how high she sailed, he was at her back. He’d never let her go too far.
But they fumbled when a child’s voice piped up. “Hey, mister, can you push me, too?”
Annalee dropped her feet, scuffing her shoes in the dirt to slow the swing. She joggled on the seat as Eric grasped the chains to bring her to a stop. A little girl about five or six stood off to the side, next to a woman with an infant in a stroller.
Annalee flushed and hopped off the seat, giving the mom an embarrassed little grin. She recognized the woman as Todd Luisi’s mother. Todd had been one of Annalee’s students last year. Mrs. Luisi looked a bit befuddled by the two adults who’d taken over the swing set.
Eric, on the other hand, smiled without a trace of embarrassment as he answered the child. “If it’s all right with your mom.”
The girl looked expectantly at her mother, who nodded permission. “All right, Marissa.” She hopped onto the swing vacated by Annalee.
“All set?” Eric stood behind her. “Hold on tight.”
“Okay.” She bit her lip in concentration and gripped the chains tightly. She was a blondie like Eric. For a moment, Annalee could imagine them as father and daughter.
“Here we go.” He gave her a gentle push.
Annalee turned to Mrs. Luisi. “How’s Todd enjoying middle school?”
“He likes it. Math’s coming pretty well for him, thanks to all the extra help you gave him last year, Mrs. Donovan. Sorry… I mean, Ms. Mondello.”
Annalee didn’t dwell on the slip. “I’m glad he’s doing well.”
“He still talks about you. Says none of the teachers at the middle school are as nice or as pretty as you are.”
“Oh.” She gave a little laugh. “Well, I’m flattered.”
“Mom, look at me.” Marissa’s cry caught their attention. Her grin was huge as she sailed through the air. “Look.”
Her mom nodded and smiled. “I see.”
“Higher, make me go higher,” Marissa begged.
“A little higher. Not too high,” Eric answered.
Warmth flooded Annalee at the ease with which he entertained the little girl. Someday, he’d make a fabulous father.
How different would her life be if she’d married someone like Eric? If she’d picked someone honest and kind from the start, she might be watching her own children on the swings.
He caught her watching him and winked.
A few minutes later, the child’s mother broke the magic mood. “Marissa, honey, time to go now.”
“Aww…” Marissa groaned.
“We’ve got to
“She was a pretty young girl,” he said. “Who’s become a beautiful woman.” His words were simple, matter of fact. He wasn’t trying to shine her on or butter her up.
She turned her head to hide her trembling lips. Of course he didn’t mean the compliment literally. But too few men understood what those words meant to a woman. What a balm they were to a bruised soul.
They’d reached the park’s playground area, which was deserted this morning. Seizing the chance to change the topic, she gestured to the swing set. “I used to love the swings.”
“When was the last time you were on one?”
She laughed. “Not since I was a kid.”
“Sit down,” he urged. “I’ll push you.”
It was ridiculous. “I’m too big.”
“No, you’re not. Those seats look plenty strong enough to hold an adult.”
Rolling her eyes, she plunked down on an empty swing. Eric tied Bobo’s leash to the slat of a nearby bench.
Eric stood behind her. “Ready?”
She stifled a giggle and gripped the chains. Was she really doing this? “Ready.”
He started out slow, with a solid push, but quickly built up steam. Soon, Annalee was flying, her toes pointed toward the clouds. Eric knew what he was doing, pushing the seat. Together they achieved a perfect rhythm that was almost hypnotizing. No matter how high she sailed, he was at her back. He’d never let her go too far.
But they fumbled when a child’s voice piped up. “Hey, mister, can you push me, too?”
Annalee dropped her feet, scuffing her shoes in the dirt to slow the swing. She joggled on the seat as Eric grasped the chains to bring her to a stop. A little girl about five or six stood off to the side, next to a woman with an infant in a stroller.
Annalee flushed and hopped off the seat, giving the mom an embarrassed little grin. She recognized the woman as Todd Luisi’s mother. Todd had been one of Annalee’s students last year. Mrs. Luisi looked a bit befuddled by the two adults who’d taken over the swing set.
Eric, on the other hand, smiled without a trace of embarrassment as he answered the child. “If it’s all right with your mom.”
The girl looked expectantly at her mother, who nodded permission. “All right, Marissa.” She hopped onto the swing vacated by Annalee.
“All set?” Eric stood behind her. “Hold on tight.”
“Okay.” She bit her lip in concentration and gripped the chains tightly. She was a blondie like Eric. For a moment, Annalee could imagine them as father and daughter.
“Here we go.” He gave her a gentle push.
Annalee turned to Mrs. Luisi. “How’s Todd enjoying middle school?”
“He likes it. Math’s coming pretty well for him, thanks to all the extra help you gave him last year, Mrs. Donovan. Sorry… I mean, Ms. Mondello.”
Annalee didn’t dwell on the slip. “I’m glad he’s doing well.”
“He still talks about you. Says none of the teachers at the middle school are as nice or as pretty as you are.”
“Oh.” She gave a little laugh. “Well, I’m flattered.”
“Mom, look at me.” Marissa’s cry caught their attention. Her grin was huge as she sailed through the air. “Look.”
Her mom nodded and smiled. “I see.”
“Higher, make me go higher,” Marissa begged.
“A little higher. Not too high,” Eric answered.
Warmth flooded Annalee at the ease with which he entertained the little girl. Someday, he’d make a fabulous father.
How different would her life be if she’d married someone like Eric? If she’d picked someone honest and kind from the start, she might be watching her own children on the swings.
He caught her watching him and winked.
A few minutes later, the child’s mother broke the magic mood. “Marissa, honey, time to go now.”
“Aww…” Marissa groaned.
“We’ve got to
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